What I eat

Lately, I've been getting a LOT of requests for me to post a typical day's meals. I used to openly share my food logs, but every time I did, I would get comments criticizing me for too many carbs, not enough protein, too much fat, not enough vegetables, too much sugar, unbalanced macros, too many grapes, and about a dozen other things. My diet isn't perfect. Far from it, actually! However, it's a hell of a lot better than it was when I was obese, and the way I eat now is keeping me binge-free (today is Day 199!). I eat foods that I enjoy, skip the ones I don't, and I am very happy with that. Maybe someday, I'll start trying to make healthier changes; but for right now, I'm good with the way I eat.

All of my health stats are good--I have the numbers checked annually, and I am perfectly healthy. The only number that is regularly too low is my blood pressure (which is what caused me to faint). The cardiologist who did all the testing after my fainting incident in 2010 told me to eat a higher sodium diet to keep my blood pressure from dropping too low; so, in planning out my meals, I don't try to limit my sodium. I just thought that was worth mentioning.

I don't really have a "typical" day, because I eat whatever sounds good to me that day. However, I went through my food logs and pulled several things out to post here. As I've mentioned before, I don't snack--I eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a nightly "treat". I don't usually get very hungry between meals; but if I do, I'm okay with that. Food tastes best when I'm hungry, so I like to feel hungry before I eat.

(I'm only posting this because so many people have told me they are curious about what I eat. I am in no way saying that this is what people "should" eat, however. The food that I eat isn't anything special--I just eat what I enjoy.)

That said, here are some examples from my food log. In addition to what is listed, I may add something else on the side to each meal. It just depends on my food plan for the day, and how many calories I have to spare. When I plan out my food ahead of time, I typically keep it to around 1500 calories, and then just add to it if I'm hungrier at each meal.

Breakfasts (I always have tea with sugar and half & half with breakfast)

Larabar with Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter

Larabar with peanut butter (I eat this nearly every single day--I LOVE Larabars)
Oatmeal with brown sugar, blueberries, and almonds (300 calories)
Sourdough toast with coconut oil (248 calories)

Lunches

Panera Half Asian Sesame Chicken Salad; cup of Chicken Noodle Soup; bread; tea

Panera (I go to Panera once a week with my friend Andrea)
     -Tomato soup with bread (510 calories)
     -Cup of chicken noodle soup; 1/2 Asian Sesame Chicken Salad; bread; iced tea (490 calories)
     -Full Asian Sesame Chicken Salad with bread (600 calories)
     -Blueberry Scone (470 calories)
Can of tuna with real mayonnaise and sweet relish; Skinny Pop popcorn; prunes (376 calories)
Chicken Melt (pita bread with chicken and cheese); Skinny Pop popcorn; apple (376 calories)
Soup (chicken noodle or clam chowder, usually); crackers. (250-400 calories)
McDonald's Filet O Fish and small fries (620 calories)
Imitation crab with real butter; broccoli-cheese pasta (458 calories)
Scrambled eggs with cheese; Asian pear (374 calories)
Scrambled eggs with cheese; sweet cherry tomatoes; cinnamon applesauce (388 calories)
Toast with peanut butter; pineapple (341 calories)
Stouffer's frozen meal (My favorite is the vegetable lasagna) (350-450 calories)
Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowl (389 calories)
Brown rice with a chipotle jack chicken sausage (368 calories)
Hostess Fruit Pie- apple (450 calories)- When I first started calorie counting, and I felt so much freedom to eat whatever I wanted, I ate these a couple of times a week! I absolutely love them. After getting that out of my system, I don't eat them very often anymore. Now I buy the mini version, and have it for a treat sometimes.
Leftovers from dinner the night before (300-600 calories)

Dinners

Turkey meat loaf with roasted bell peppers

Cabbage Casserole with rice (414 calories)
Chili with cornbread (506 calories)
Pasta e Fagioli (444 calories)
Split Pea Soup (258 calories)
Taco Salad (494 calories)
Spicy Taco Gnocchi Skillet (350 calories)
Keema and rice (433 calories)
Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo (588 calories)
Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta (379 calories)
Kielbasa & Corn Hash with an egg on top (448 calories)
Pizza, three small slices with pepperoni and bacon (1101 calories-this is what I like on a high calorie day)
*A lot of things I cook for dinner are found on Pinterest. You can see my pins there for other ideas.

Treats

Merlot and a Cadbury Creme Egg

Two small sandwich cookies and a glass of wine (254 calories)
Mini Haagen Dazs ice cream cup (310 calories)
Kit Kat Minis (170 calories)
Mini Apple Pie (240 calories)
Chocolate covered dried cherries (200 calories)
Swiss Cake Rolls (270 calories)
Butterfinger Cups (230 calories)
Popcorn (187 calories)
Glass of wine (125 calories)
Rice Krispies Treat (150 calories)
Homemade dessert (200-500 calories)

As far as drinks go, I drink tons of water (usually at least three quarts a day). I also like La Croix seltzer water, so I have one of those each day. Occasionally, I'll have diet tonic water with lime. The only calorie-containing drinks I usually have are wine, an occasional light beer, tea with sugar and half & half, and if we go to the bar or something, I'll have a vodka tonic. I don't really like soda or juice, so I don't drink them.

So that's about it! Like I said, nothing special or magical. Just foods that I like, regardless of how healthy or unhealthy they are. In the past, whenever I've tried to cut out processed foods, or sugars, or anything like that, it backfires on me big time. My diet now isn't great, but it isn't terrible, either. And I'm happy with it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!